BOARD LETS GIRL'S B'S STAND.Byline: Jennifer Radcliffe Staff Writer After first trying to dodge the controversy, the Los Angeles Unified School District The Los Angeles Unified School District (the "LAUSD") is the largest (in terms of number of students) public school system in California and the second-largest in the United States. Only the New York City Department of Education has a larger student population. board sided Tuesday with two Taft High School teachers by refusing to raise the grades of an honors student An honors student is a student in elementary, middle, or high school recognized for achieving high grades. Honors students are recognized on lists published periodically throughout the school year, known as "honor rolls". who thought her two B's should be A's. Board members voted 5-0, with trustee David Tokofsky abstaining and Marguerite Marguerite, for French women thus named, use Margaret Marguerite. For French women thus named, use Margaret. marguerite, in botany marguerite: see daisy. LaMotte absent, to maintain the B grades given to Amanda Wolin by her 10th-grade English and Spanish teachers. The decision climaxed a 10-month, back-and-forth appeals process that twice saw an independent review panel rule in favor of upon the side of; favorable to; for the advantage of. See also: favor Wolin. The teen's parents said they would sue the district over Tuesday's board vote. ``It is obvious that the board, which is elected and supported by the teachers union, is more interested in protecting the teachers ... and avoiding controversy than in defending the students' rights and doing what is fair and just,'' mother Amy Wolin said. Because it involves teacher performance, student records and a potential lawsuit, board members said they could not discuss the case. They also refused to release a 20-page document outlining the district's case. Tokofsky said he abstained because he wanted the board to take more time making the decision. ``I wanted two more weeks to deliberate rather than slam it shut today. I support the teachers' decisions, (but) I wanted to read the statement more closely before we are in court, being deposed on the issues.'' The Wolins' challenge drew an outcry from students, teachers and parents at Taft, who said the two teachers involved - English teacher Arthur Berchin and Spanish teacher Sheilah Wilson-Serfaty - were among the school's best. The panel that sided with Wolin earlier questioned why Wilson-Serfaty gave Amanda a B, even though her final grade book, bubble roster and verification roster all showed an A. It also questioned why Berchin allowed classmates Classmates can refer to either:
But the panel's recommendations were rejected by Assistant Superintendent Assistant Superintendent, or Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), was a rank used by police forces in the British Empire. It was usually the lowest rank that could be held by a European officer, most of whom joined the police at this rank. Bud Jacobs. The parents appealed Jacobs' decision to the school board. The case became so heated that the school board voted March 9 to remove itself as the final arbiter in all grade-change disputes, which rarely reach the board level. The board ultimately agreed to hear Amanda's case after pressure from her parents. Amy Wolin said this decision won't be the last of the case. ``We intend to vigorously pursue the grades Amanda earned by seeking a tribunal A general term for a court, or the seat of a judge. In Roman Law, the term applied to an elevated seat occupied by the chief judicial magistrate when he heard causes. tribunal n. that is impartial Favoring neither; disinterested; treating all alike; unbiased; equitable, fair, and just. and unbiased,'' she said. Jennifer Radcliffe, (818) 713-3722 jennifer.radcliffe(at)dailynews.com |
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